Many, who know that I organize and volunteer for St. Baldrick’s, have asked how I became involved. St. Baldrick’s was founded by three reinsurance executives, which is the industry that I’ve worked in for most of my career. The founders come from Irish roots, and share the belief that life has treated them well, so they “challenged” each other to come up with a way to give back. They decided that they would shave their heads in solidarity with kids who had cancer and typically lose their hair during treatment, and in turn would ask for financial support from their friends and family. So….on March 17, 2000, John Bender, Tim Kenny and Enda McDonnell turned their industry's St. Patrick's Day party into a head-shaving event to benefit kids with cancer - hence, the name “St. Baldrick’s.” Their 20 "shavee" recruits planned to raise "$17,000 on the 17th." Instead, they raised over $104,000! They never imagined their conversation between friends would grow into the largest volunteer driven charity for pediatric cancer research in the world, and would become a cause that brings together so many of us in the (re)insurance industry. St. Baldrick’s funds more pediatric cancer research grants than any organization except the US government, over $14 million in 2010 alone. Since 2005 (the year it became an independent charity), St. Baldrick’s has granted over $2.3 million to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. At times I’ve questioned why I dedicate so much of my time to St. Baldrick’s. I don’t have children of my own, nor did I know any kids with cancer until relatively recently. Moreover, my family seems to have every disease except cancer – dementia, heart disease, MS, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, hydrocephalous…I could go on. Although I donate monetarily to these causes, my spare time is consumed by St. Baldrick’s, particularly this time of year. Many times I’ve guiltily asked myself…should I instead be spending my time volunteering for other causes? Then a few weeks ago, John Bender posted the blog of ER doc, Liam Yore http://allbleedingstops.blogspot.com/2011/02/cause-of-my-life.html, which I related to on so many levels. The 3-time shavee talks about his choice to shave again and continue to support St. Baldrick's after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. A major factor in his decision was the little known reality of how underfunded pediatric cancer research really is. He points to the sobering static that the funds dedicated for all types of kids cancer combined is just a fraction of what is spent on breast cancer research alone. I was once skeptical of the startling static that “1 in 5 kids diagnosed with cancer will not survive” and thought that couldn’t be possible. I had been involved with St. Baldrick’s for 7 years, yet didn’t know anyone who died from pediatric cancer until recently. Until Taylor. Taylor loved life, school, her friends, her family, and had an incredible will to live, but it wasn’t enough. At her funeral mass in December, my heart broke for her family and her many friends from Washington Township High School, who had just lost another of their classmates, Derek, to cancer just a few months before. I have recently come to know Amy Bucher. She became involved with St. Baldrick's last year as part of team "46 Mommas Shave for the Brave," 46 mothers of children either in treatment, surviving, or who have died after being diagnosed with childhood Cancer. 46 represents the number of children diagnosed each week day in our nation. They shaved together in solidarity with all of the children who don't have a choice about losing their hair during treatment. Unfortunately, her reason for doing so is that she lost her 3 year-old daughter, Arden, to Neuroblastoma (a childhood Cancer of the nervous system) in 2008 after 10 months of treatment. Arden’s story can be found on the St. Baldrick’s site, as she was selected to be one of the five 2011 Ambassador Kids. Amy expressed to me the feelings of many parents who’ve lost their children to cancer. She could give her baby the clothes, toys and other material things that she needed, but she couldn’t give her what mattered the most – a cure. Unlike many other organizations, St. Baldrick’s is dedicated solely to the funding research for pediatric cancer and making sure that the survivors live long and healthy lives. So, YES, until we find a cure, I will continue to organize an event for St. Baldrick’s, and to volunteer for other local events as much as I am able. To those of you who donate (it doesn’t matter to whom!), shave or volunteer, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, and hope that this will inspire you to continue your support St. Baldrick’s and get others involved!!! If are able to contribute, you can make a donation directly online in my name as Volunteer Event Organizer. Click "Make a donation" to give online, or donate by phone or mail. That’s right, I won’t be shaving (this year), although I am organizing and assisting at several local events. Moreover, I’ll have to look at my husband’s large, scarred, lumpy, bald head for a few weeks! Please only contribute what you can afford, and remember no donation is too small! You can also give me cash, or a check payable to “St. Baldrick’s Foundation.” Better yet, if you’d like to sign up as a shavee or even start your own team, go to the St. Baldrick’s site and find an event near you, or participate with us at McFadden’s. Whether or not you shave, we’d love to see you at McFadden’s Ballpark event on March 12, 6-11 (details are on our event webpage), as we “shave the way to conquer kids’ cancer!” HONORED KIDS - These are the very special children who we are honoring at our event: Amey, who will have a team of children shaving in her honor for the 4th year. After being diagnosed on her 4th birthday, we are all thrilled that this will be the first St. Baldrick’s event for “Amey’s Allies” since she’s finished treatment! ARDEN, forever 3, lost her life to to Neuroblastoma in 2008 after 10 months of treatment. As a testament to her amazing courage, Arden was selected to be one of the five 2011 Ambassador Kids! Arden’s mom, Amy Bucher, and family will be attending. JESENIA, the sister of an Archbishop Ryan student, now an angel after being diagnosed in 2008 with a brain tumor at the age of 9. Archbishop Ryan faculty will be participating in her memory for a second year. They will also honor Lou Fante, a long-time faculty member who recently passed away after battling cancer. LEAH, diagnosed in September 2006, has been in remission for over 3 years! She will be attending with her father, David, who will be shaving in her honor once again this year. RYAN, the son of a Philadelphia Contributionship employee, has undergone treatment and is doing well! Team TAYLOR and DEREK, both Washington Township High School students, who had their young lives cut short. Taylor on November 28, 2010 to Osteosarcoma and Derek on August 4, 2010 to Rhabdomyosarcoma. FACEBOOK USERS Like Philly Area Events - Like our local page and share it. http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Baldricks-Foundation-Philadelphia-Area-Events/321927245357 Invite Others - Send the invite to friends and family, and share photos and details about our event: http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Baldricks-Foundation-Philadelphia-Area-Events/321927245357 Like the Foundation - Like the national page and share it: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/StBaldricksFoundation